According to the Canadian Press, Calgary Flames prospect Michael Ferland began his court case on Monday for assaulting two people at a Cochrane bar on July 29, 2012. Cochrane, is a town approximately 15 minutes west of Calgary.

Ferland, according to Daryl Slade of the Calgary Herald, attended the Stageline Saloon two years ago, when an altercation arose and victim Jayson Eyma was left lying on the ground unconscious. Ferland is on trial for knocking out Eyma with a single blow to the head according to Kevin Martin of the Calgary Sun. Eyma suffered several fractures to the facial area.

However Charlotte Barker, Ferland's aunt, testified on Tuesday that she did not see Ferland hit Eyma in the altercation. Barker was apparently trying to encourage Ferland and his girlfriend out of the bar when the altercation took place.

Ferland is also on trial for assaulting Cochrane farmer Wesley Bunn. Ferland has pleaded not guilty to both charges.

Eyma and Bunn, according to Martin, came to the defense of Ferland's girlfriend when they saw an altercation between Ferland and his girlfriend take place. It is expected quite a few people at Stageline Saloon that night were intoxicated.

In recent years Stageline Saloon has closed its doors. The new bar in the former Stageline Saloon location is Texas Gate.

A native of Swan River, Manitoba, Ferland was the Flames' fifth round pick, 133rd overall in the 2010 National Hockey League Entry Draft. Over the last two seasons, Ferland has played for the Flames' top American Hockey League affiliate, the Abbotsford Heat.